Cora Masters Barry, City Reach Deal on Recreation Center

Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry will get to stay in the recreation center that she was instrumental in building a decade ago after negotiations with the city.

City officials released a brief statement Thursday, the same day supporters are expected to appear at a 4 p.m. hearing on behalf of Barry. She and her group, the Recreation Wish List Committee, were given an eviction notice after allowing the group's corporate status to lapse, a problem fixed with paperwork filings.

But city officials continued to pursue the eviction, which backfired legally and politically for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and his administration.

A Superior Court judge ordered a temporary restraining order that prevented the eviction, and residents voiced concerns after Fenty failed to meet with civil rights icon Dorothy Height and poet Maya Angelou, who wished to speak to him on Barry's behalf.

Barry, estranged wife of council member Marion Barry (D), said she is happy to get back to work after the distraction. "We will work in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Whatever they do, we will work with them," she said. "We never had a problem with them."

The city issued the following statement:

"All parties involved are satisfied with today's settlement agreement, and look forward to working together to ensure that District residents and children receive high quality public recreation services."

She is only there because Cora won the first round in court. Law suits are mounting and he didn't want to lose so they settled. Right now Nickles has had two judges to give him the smack down, Judge Roberts and Judge Sullivan so this would have made their armor just a little thinner.